White diamond fetches $30.6 million

HONG KONG (AP) — A white diamond the size of a small egg sold for $30.6 million at a Hong Kong auction, although a blue diamond that was the night’s other highlight with a $19 million estimate failed to sell.

Two phone bidders competed for the 118-carat white diamond from Africa in six minutes of measured bidding until one dropped out in the Sotheby’s jewelry auction Monday night, part of fall sales of art and collectibles by the firm and its rivals.

The “flawless” white oval diamond, mined and cut two years ago, was hammered down for $27.3 million, just under the low end of the $28 million to $35 million estimate range set by Sotheby’s. Total price including commission came to $30.6 million.

That was more than the previous record of $26.7 million for a white diamond set in May in Geneva.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Doctors were drilling into President Cristina Fernandez's skull today to siphon out blood that is pressuring her brain two months after she suffered an unexplained head injury.

Experts described this morning’s procedure as generally low risk and almost always having positive results. But the surgery on the 60-year-old leader worried many Argentines